Pajero Sport vs GWM Tank 300: Honest Comparison & Verdict
Seven seats, a frugal diesel with the range for the deep bush, full-time Super Select II 4WD and a decade-proven ownership record. The family overlander that just works.
Dual diff locks, tank turn, crawl control and a tech-loaded cabin, for a price that undercuts everything. The value and equipment sensation of the segment, in a bold, retro shape.
This isn’t a like-for-like fight, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. A proven, seven-seat diesel overlander versus the most talked-about, feature-packed newcomer in years.
Let’s be clear about what these two are. The Pajero Sport is a seven-seat, diesel family 4×4 built for long-distance overlanding and a decade-proven ownership story. The GWM Tank 300 is a five-seat, petrol, retro-styled off-roader that arrives absolutely loaded (dual diff locks, tank turn, crawl control and a tech-heavy cabin) for a price that undercuts almost everything.
So they’re cross-shopped, but they answer different questions. The Tank 300 wins, decisively, on equipment and value. You simply cannot buy this much off-road hardware and tech anywhere else for the money. The Pajero Sport answers with the things that matter most to a long-haul SA family: two more seats, a frugal diesel with real range, full-time Super Select II 4WD, and the reassurance of a proven brand.
Here’s the honest breakdown: where the Tank 300’s value and kit are unbeatable, and where the Pajero Sport’s diesel-overlander credentials keep it ahead for the buyer this site is built for.
Power & Drivetrain Tank 300: more power
- Diesel torque & economy: 430 Nm low-down and ~8.0 L/100km make it the long-distance and towing pick
- Far greater range: a diesel sips where the Tank’s petrol drinks, crucial for remote overlanding
- Relaxed, proven powertrain: the 4N15 and 8-speed are durable, well-understood units
- 29 kW more power: the turbo-petrol is punchy and revvy, with more outright kilowatts
- 8-speed automatic, as many ratios as the Pajero, smooth and modern
- Strong on-paper outputs: competitive straight-line pace for the price, though petrol means thirstier and less range
4WD Systems & Trail Ability Genuinely close
- Only full-time 4WD here: 4H works on tar and wet surfaces where part-time rivals can’t
- Diesel range for the deep bush. Go much further between fills on a serious overland trip
- Proven Super Select II: decades of trusted refinement and durability
- On-the-fly switching: 2H to 4H at up to 100 km/h without stopping
- Front AND rear diff locks: twin lockers are rare at any price, serious for technical terrain
- Tank Turn & crawl control: tech-driven trickery the Pajero Sport can’t match
- Excellent approach & departure angles: short overhangs in a boxy, capable shape
- 9+ terrain modes: heavily equipped traction electronics straight out of the box
Practicality vs Tech Different priorities
- Seven seats: two more than the five-seat Tank 300, decisive for families
- Bigger, longer body: more cargo and people space for proper trips
- Proven, durable cabin built for hard family and bush use
- Tech showcase: twin 12.3-inch screens and a feature list that shames pricier rivals
- Bold retro-modern design: nothing else in the price range looks like it
- Astonishing standard equipment: 360 camera, lockers, crawl control and more, included
Who Should Buy Which
Pajero Sport vs Tank 300: Full Spec Table
| Specification | Pajero Sport (Exceed) | GWM Tank 300 (2.0T 4×4) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine & Performance | ||
| Engine | 2.4L Turbo Diesel | 2.0L Turbo Petrol |
| Power | 133 kW | 162 kW, More |
| Torque | 430 Nm, More | 380 Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto | 8-speed auto |
| Fuel type | Diesel, efficient | Petrol |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | ~8.0 L/100km, Better | ~10.5 L/100km |
| Off-Road & 4WD | ||
| 4WD system | Super Select II, full-time | Part-time 4WD |
| Full-time 4WD mode | Yes (4H) | No |
| Diff locks | Rear | Front & rear, More |
| Ground clearance | 218 mm | 224 mm, More |
| Wading depth | 700 mm | 700 mm |
| Special off-road tech | 4 terrain modes | Tank Turn · Crawl · 9+ modes |
| Practicality & Towing | ||
| Seating | 7, More | 5 |
| Braked towing | 3,100 kg, More | 2,500 kg |
| Touchscreen | Up to 9-inch | Dual 12.3-inch |
| Fuel tank | 68 L | 75 L, Larger |
| Ownership (South Africa) | ||
| Entry price (2026) | R749,900 | From R689,900, Cheaper |
| Top-spec price (2026) | R904,990 | R820,000+ |
| Warranty | 3yr/100,000 km | 5yr/100,000 km, Longer |
| Reliability reputation | Proven, decades | Newer brand |
| Resale value | Established | Unproven (new model) |
How They Score: Out of 10
The Pajero Sport takes the overall average for the diesel-overlanding, seven-seat brief this site is built around: economy, range, seats and proven ownership. But the Tank 300 wins three big categories, including a decisive value-and-equipment landslide. For a five-seat buyer chasing kit-per-rand, that may matter more than the average.
Pajero Sport Pricing (2026)
Entry · SS4-II · 7-seat
Leather · 9″ screen · BSW
Sunroof · 360° cam · ACC
The Pajero Sport asks a little more, but you’re buying seven seats, a frugal diesel, full-time 4WD and a proven ownership story, the long-haul family case, not the lowest sticker.
Tank 300 Pricing (2026)
Petrol · part-time 4WD
Hybrid flagship
The Tank 300 dramatically undercuts the segment while bundling equipment (twin lockers, tank turn, twin screens) that costs far more elsewhere. The question marks are petrol running costs, long-term resale and a younger dealer network.
The proven family overlander
The Pajero Sport’s case is range, seats and trust: seven seats, a frugal diesel with the reach for remote travel, full-time Super Select II 4WD, more towing, and a decade-proven ownership record. For the long-haul SA family that actually goes places, it remains the dependable pick.
The value and equipment sensation
The Tank 300 rewrites the value equation: front and rear diff locks, tank turn, crawl control and a tech-loaded cabin for a price that undercuts everything. If you don’t need seven seats and equipment thrills you, nothing else comes close on kit-per-rand, just weigh the petrol economy and unproven resale.
Let’s be honest about the GWM Tank 300: it’s the most exciting value story the segment has seen in years. Twin diff locks, tank turn, crawl control and a tech-rich cabin, all for less than a base Fortuner. As a five-seat, equipment-packed off-road toy, it’s genuinely brilliant, and we won’t pretend the Pajero Sport matches it on kit-per-rand.
But this site is built for diesel-overlanding families, and on that brief the Pajero Sport answers the questions that matter most: seven seats instead of five, a frugal diesel with real range, full-time Super Select II 4WD, more towing, and a proven ownership record the newer GWM brand can’t yet claim. For the Kgalagadi-bound family, those are decisive.
Our recommendation: if you want maximum off-road hardware and tech for the money, don’t need seven seats, and you’re comfortable being an early adopter, the Tank 300 is a sensational buy. If you need a proven, frugal, seven-seat diesel that will cross the country and hold its value, the Pajero Sport is still the smarter long-term overlander. Pick the tool that fits your job.